Rigorous Paired Passage Instruction : Step by Step Breakdown

Paired passage analysis and comprehension is a tricky skill for most of my readers, but definitely for my readers who are not proficient. I have found that the more exposure and practice they have with paired passages, the more confident and successful they are. However, I have found that many of my 5th graders come to me with limited practice, which as you can imagine presents quite the challenge. On this post, I will share the steps I take to implement rigorous paired passage instruction in my 5th grade classroom, including a link to purchase the resources I use.

What Are Paired Passages?

In case this is a new topic or skill for you and your students, let’s back up and define what paired passages are first. Paired passages are passages that are connected or similar in some way. The passages or texts can be connected in very different ways and often move beyond the fiction/nonfiction paired texts that students see in primary grades.

Ways that paired passages and texts can be connected:

Both nonfiction with the same topic but varying details/focuses.

Both fiction with similar themes.

Both fiction with similar plot elements (same problem, same challenge, etc).

Different genres but with some connecting aspect (describing the same problem, about the same overall topic, etc).

Now, let’s take a look into the step-by-step process I take with paired passage instruction.

Step 1: Introduce the Concept of Paired Passages

First, I use a variety of posters and other instructional handouts to introduce students to the concept of paired passages. Many students are used to only reading passages and answering questions in isolation, so I believe this introduction to paired passages is crucial. I go over what paired passages are and how to read them with success. This step only needs to be completed once (and then reviewed as necessary).

Step 2: Read and Analyze the First Passage

Once the students are comfortable with the concept of paired passages, I begin my passage instruction. I start with one passage at a time. I typically spend one day/lesson on just the first passage. We read it and discuss the details/plot, etc. in depth.

After lots of discussing and sharing, we tackle comprehension questions (again for just the one passage). I have done the comprehension questions in two formats: basic worksheet format and task card format. The task card format is a bit of a novelty which tends to engage them more than the paper pencil part.

Step 3: Read and Analyze the Second Passage

After analyzing the first passage, we move on to the second passage. We complete the same steps with the second passage as we did with the first. We talk about it, share our thoughts, and then answer comprehension questions.

Step 4: Analyze the Connections Between the Paired Passages

Finally, we are ready to move into the paired comprehension aspect. We pull out both passages again and are ready to analyze the connections between the two.

Just as with the individual passages, we always spend some time discussing and sharing our thoughts about the paired passages before we even look at the comprehension questions. I typically ask these questions:

What is the connection between the two passages?

How are the passages similar?

How are the passages different?

Which passage did you prefer? Why?

Which passage provided more interesting facts and details about the topic?

Step 5: Discuss and Answer the Paired Comprehension Questions

After a lot of discussion, we are finally ready to take on the paired comprehension questions. Here are the steps I follow for this step in the process:

Step 1: Read the question and circle/underline key words.Step 2: Discuss the question with a partner.Step 3: Restate the question in your own words (can be combined with Step 2).Step 4: Analyze each passage for evidence that can be used to answer the questions.

I know this seems like a lot of work, but it will definitely pay off in the long run. With time and practice, your students will learn how to automatically complete these steps with speed and accuracy.

Just like the individual passages, I have also used different formats for the paired comprehension: worksheet format and task card format. The best part about the task card format is that these paired passages can eventually be placed in a center for the students to work through independently.

When we first start analyzing paired passages, we answer and complete all the questions as a class or with partners. Then I release some responsibility and have the students complete more and eventually all of the questions by themselves.

Step 6: Optional Extension Paired Passage Activities

As you can imagine by this step the students are fully comfortable with the passages and the connection and differences between the two. This is the perfect opportunity to extend the use of the paired passages with extension activities.

Here are my favorite types of extension activities to use with paired passages:

Context Clues – Defining words in context from the texts

Find the Evidence – Finding evidence from both texts to support a point or inference. Then the students paraphrase the evidence in their own words.

Text-Based Writing – Our state assessment is huge on the students writing essays using evidence from passages. The passage set I am highlighting in this passage includes an essay prompt for each genre. This makes it perfect to use in the real world classroom. If I am working on informational writing, I could use the informational prompt with the students as part of my writing instruction. Then I could use the narrative or persuasive prompt in a center.

Paired Passage Resource

By the time your students have completed a few rounds of these questions and activities, they will be paired passage pros!

Reader Interactions

16 Comments

Perfect timing! I will once again be teaching a self-contained 5th grade class next year after two years teaching math and science (in GA, too). While I have stayed up on the latest in reading, I have been doing a lot of thinking this summer on how to set up centers and most importantly, reading centers- I will be teaching a very wide range of learners, to include special ed and gifted. Thank you for these resources- I will let you know how it goes!

I spend a lot of time training my students about how to summarize and paraphrase. It has been such a big help when completing nonfiction reading activities like these. Love your scaffolding!CaitlinTheRoomMom

I can not tell you how excited that I ran into this! I was asking a few months back if anyone knew where I can find something like this. I am not sure if you are in Florida, but this is the new trend here. The kids need a lot of practice with this, and these are perfect. Thank you!

Wish I was in the classroom next year to put this into practice but I will definitely pass this on to the other teachers at my school. I love the scaffolding and consistency that your method provides and I am sure that this will make such a difficult concept a whole lot easier for our students!

Any specific tips or tricks for teaching the “how are they different” part. My kids this year are having a REALLY hard time. We have tried Venn Diagrams, T-charts. They seem to draw a blank and when it’s a multiple choice answer they cannot pinpoint the correct one.

Hey Maria, we usually make a chart of ways they can be the same and ways they can be different. The students can refer to the chart as needed. Here are some ideas (and we add to it as the year progresses):

– different genre
– different solution to the same/similar problem
– different responses to the same/similar challenge
– different setting
– different focus or main idea
– different text structure
– different theme
– plot development differences
– writing craft differences (use of action, use of dialogue, etc to drive the plot)

Welcome friends! I’m Jennifer Findley: a teacher, mother, and avid reader. I believe that with the right resources, mindset, and strategies, all students can achieve at high levels and learn to love learning. My goal is to provide resources and strategies to inspire you and help make this belief a reality for your students. Learn more about me.